“Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed.”
Each time we celebrate Mass, we echo the centurion’s honest plea of mercy and healing. In this instance we are asking the Lord to heal not our servant, but our very soul, our inmost being. We are acknowledging that we’re about to receive Him under the “roof” of our mouths and thus to welcome Him into our physical abode; into our bodies, the dwelling place of the soul.
The centurion did not ask for the healing himself but for his servant. How powerful is intercessory prayer?
The encounter between Jesus and the Roman centurion was a unique one. The centurion was not like the regular people that Jesus meet daily. He was a Roman officer; an outsider as far as Jewish faith is concern.
Yet, like every regular people he has a problem that he is dealing with in his household. This problem made him turn to Jesus. He saw Jesus as the solution to his problem. He asked Jesus to heal his servant. Jesus agrees to come cure him.
Then comes more drama, the centurion proclaimed his unworthiness. He also requested Jesus to heal his servant from a distance. With these words he manifested his profound faith which Jesus later acknowledged.
What do we learn from this encounter?
– The centurion humility- his admission that he’s not worthy of Jesus’ physical presence in his home
– His confidence in Jesus- that Jesus can heal his servant simply by saying the word.
– Jesus holds the man as a model for faith for all
– Jesus offers his servant healing
– Jesus did what the centurion asked for -heals from a distance.
As we walk through the first week of Advent, a special season of expectation and waiting, let our prayers be a plea of mercy and healing for someone around us.
Advent is a season of hope and preparation. Like the Roman centurion who hoped for the healing of his servant, may we hope in expectation as we prepare ourselves for the coming feast. Like the centurion, we are people of faith, so may we allow our faith to shine forth so that others may see it and glorify God.
Every encounter with God is a mystery. As we ponder on the great mystery of the Incarnation during the season of advent, may be also be grateful for gifts already received- Jesus.
Have a wonderful week
